Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-06-12
AN OPERATIC REHEARSAL.
People Of the Stage as Seen without Aid
From tho FootliGhts.

Special Correspondence ofMc Register.
New YORK, June ID.
The rehearsal of IN opera is n scene ii
removed from the ideal. The every day
colOring OF life is there spread on thick
The eyes of the stage struck girl woult
protrude so far they never could 90 back I,
their old position if she saw it. And wOult
it not be a blessing TO her and her kin
she could see it?
Somewhere over a music store, in th,
third or fourth story, up dark and dirty
stairs, is the location selected. Reason
for the same will occur To the practical
mind. Big, barren and bare is the room
dusty and dirty, too, 4 torn ceiling an,
carpetless floors distinguish 1t. 4 piano il
there, To he sure, a base, world weary in
strumcnt that turns mp lis nose and laugh,
in its sleeves At the brightest OF the starr
who MARBLE in It's presence. Has it not
seen them rise. shine and fade into Oblivion
again and again? And does il not know
in its rattlirg heart shat all is vanity?
There is but little furniture in the room,
and what is there is broken. Chairs and
benches with unreliable LEGS stand ready
to bring the most aspiring singer down.
The hour is | a. m. Members of the ch0ru,
drop in one by ouc-meu with mattv hair,
like badly curled fur, and shabby clothes.
Stage people OF the middle and lOwly rank,
have but Il limited everyday wardrobe usu'
ally. Having no everyday life Ia speak Of,
they neither need them nor care for them.
All are anxious for the season to begin.
Ret is Il iine thing when You can afford II,
but 4 curse when you" pocket is empty
and your mind much bothered over the
emptiness. The stage people generally
hate the Scascr OF idlcnrSS. "Suap en-.
gageInents' are hoped Iog during the sum
mer.
The foreign element aboundS. One struts
magniiicently and carries his eyeglasses
with IN air. Elderly chaps in short coats
cut around with ungildcd youths, ana they
and every body else have forgotten their
years, since dignity has also been forgot
ten. The girls come with fancy music
dolls, baskets, bags, satchcls and with
all rolled up in uusightIy bundles.
They chat; they drum IN the piano; they
mum tunes. The mighty stars keep to
themselves. Perhaps a friend or two
drops in and chats with them-a Journal
isl or musical chum. The tenor
something Of the same inter
est he does behind the foot
lights. Visitors remark his youthful
face and stout body, and have theories in
regard to the same. The contralto meets
with much respect. The soprano and her
second are, of course, held in high es-
timation. 1T is her company, and kOw-
is quite in place. The baSso is
tall. His voice is Il surprise TO those who
have heard him. II seems to come from 4
tremendous cavern, and there is no signs
of cavern about his person. The chorus,
too, is Il surprise. 1t swells out gloriously.
The girls who help TO make it up were
what may be described rs almost any
Nothing more questionable
than their garments could be found on the
outskirts Of civilization. Their ''pOv-
crty and not their will' is re-
spOnsible. There are duets and dialogues,
and ciphers. Leader grows exaS-
pcrated, cntreats, commands and threat
ems. They sing and 90 through their parts
without noticing the absurdity of the sit
uatiOn. A sIouchy. stumbling man leads
Il modest looking girl. Once out, and
in Imagination before an audience, he
up and becomes 4 most lOrdly crea-
tuTe. lie is going to bea king in the opera
and already feels it in his homes. SubStan-
tIal fairies waddle around rs though the
was n good thing to stand upon after
all. Wait till you see them in diaphanOus
lrapcry and you will doubt the previous
Of your eyes.
There is no glamour. no splendid adj
10 stage setting. 1t is opera in
the raw, a wavering image of what it will
he in its perfection. An advertising agent
about. His engagement for the
is not yet a fixed fact.
RehearSals for the winter season do not
until July, but the companies who
have designs on summer resorts and Can
ida are at ii already.
GERTETnE GARRISON.